Wire · regulatory
IFF says blocking BitChat code on GitHub is unconstitutional, authoritarian
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◆ Geography
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Fusion42 · 24 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
India's Ministry of Home Affairs ordered GitHub to remove BitChat repositories under IT Act Section 79(3)(b), citing a three-hour compliance deadline. The Internet Freedom Foundation challenged the order as unconstitutional, arguing the government seeks to block a peer-to-peer messaging app not for illegal content but for its ability to function during internet shutdowns.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Cybersecurity, and 6 sources have reported it between 24 Jul 2026 and 26 Jul 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you're hosting open-source code on GitHub or any platform in India, the government can now order takedowns with three-hour deadlines under provisions designed for illegal content, not software availability. The precedent is set: being built to work offline is now grounds for removal.
◆ Coverage
6 sources · first reported 24 Jul 2026 · latest 26 Jul 2026
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